As the saying goes, "When God closes one door, He opens another"...even though it might be Hell in the hallway.
That holds true for former Clear Channel Radio Program Director and longtime air personality, Kathy Fisher.
Better known to some outside the drag-racing world as Kathy Hague or even Kati Kruz, Fisher saw her career that
started in 1992 abruptly end shortly before this past Christmas.
It's nothing new in the broadcasting business for new management to make changes. Unfortunately...or maybe
fortunately for Fisher - the new bosses at Clear Channel-Lim decided to take the station "jockless" and eliminated
all on-air talent, including Fisher, a 14 year veteran.
While most would see this as a career blow, Fisher said she knew that was just the nudge she needed to take the
other love in her life - drag racing - to the next level. Although she said she will miss entertaining and informing her
listeners, Fisher traded in one fast-paced world for another.
Like broadcasting, drag racing is nothing new to Fisher. She has been a part of it from childhood, because her
father was heavily involved in the International Hot Rod Association. He raced in the 1970s and bracket raced in
the 80s. When it was finally her turn to take the wheel in 1986, Fisher began her racing in her dad's 1967 Nova SS.
As part of the Hague Racing team. Fisher competed in the Street ET Class at various tracks throughout Indiana
and Ohio and earned her first victory at age 15.
While building her career in broadcasting, Fisher's pursuit of racing had to take a back seat. She grew tired of
waiting and in 1999, Fisher took her brand new Camaro Z28 to the local track and began racing again. All she was
looking for was a little fun and competition on a Saturday night. She did it on her own. No one in her circle of
friends at the time was at all interested in attending a drag race.
What she didn't know was she was going to win much more than a race or two. During that time, at that same
track, she met Kevin Fisher, whom she married after a four month courtship. At the exact spot where he asked her
out for the first time, they exchanged their vows, then exchanged race-car data as teammates.
Once racing became a family affair, she acquired her competition license. In February 2003, Kathy completed the
Super Comp Dragster course at Frank Hawley's NHRA Drag Racing School in Gainesville, Florida. Today, she is
licensed in both drag racing sanctioning bodies in five classes.
Fisher said that in 2003, when she was the pit reporter for IHRA on SPEED TV, she realized she wanted to pursue
a championship in the Quick Rod class. When that season finished, she purchased her first "new to her" dragster
and began to prepare for the 2004 season.
Because of the usual setbacks for the average racer, available vacation time - and oh, did anyone mention
money?! - that first year kept her close to home, bracket racing at Marion County International Raceway at La
Rue, Ohio. She was able to take a stab at a couple of IHRA National events at Maryland International Raceway
at Budds Creek and Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. The Fishers were hooked!
Performance by Fisher Racing debuted in 2005, with husband and wife competing in the same class. After finishing
ninth and tenth in the IHRA Division 3 Quick Rod standings, they improved in 2006 with top-five finishes at the
division level and top 25 showings on the National scene.
The Fishers said they're limited only by the bane of all racers: MONEY. Their plan is to attend 23 IHRA &
NHRA National and Divisional events, something they could not have thought of with her full time career in radio.
Once again, Kathy Fisher will drive her 230-inch Boulton/Cannister Dragster with its alcohol-injected big-block
Chevy motor.
Just as she can't get drag-racing from her system, neither can she abandon her radio skills. She has found a way to
marry the two. In March, Fisher started planning for a syndicated weekly radio show dedicated to drag racing. It's
in the beginning stages, but she said she looks forward to bringing her two worlds together and hopes to expose a
whole new audience to the drag racing world from a racer's viewpoint.
You can read more about Kathy Fisher on her web site.
That holds true for former Clear Channel Radio Program Director and longtime air personality, Kathy Fisher.
Better known to some outside the drag-racing world as Kathy Hague or even Kati Kruz, Fisher saw her career that
started in 1992 abruptly end shortly before this past Christmas.
It's nothing new in the broadcasting business for new management to make changes. Unfortunately...or maybe
fortunately for Fisher - the new bosses at Clear Channel-Lim decided to take the station "jockless" and eliminated
all on-air talent, including Fisher, a 14 year veteran.
While most would see this as a career blow, Fisher said she knew that was just the nudge she needed to take the
other love in her life - drag racing - to the next level. Although she said she will miss entertaining and informing her
listeners, Fisher traded in one fast-paced world for another.
Like broadcasting, drag racing is nothing new to Fisher. She has been a part of it from childhood, because her
father was heavily involved in the International Hot Rod Association. He raced in the 1970s and bracket raced in
the 80s. When it was finally her turn to take the wheel in 1986, Fisher began her racing in her dad's 1967 Nova SS.
As part of the Hague Racing team. Fisher competed in the Street ET Class at various tracks throughout Indiana
and Ohio and earned her first victory at age 15.
While building her career in broadcasting, Fisher's pursuit of racing had to take a back seat. She grew tired of
waiting and in 1999, Fisher took her brand new Camaro Z28 to the local track and began racing again. All she was
looking for was a little fun and competition on a Saturday night. She did it on her own. No one in her circle of
friends at the time was at all interested in attending a drag race.
What she didn't know was she was going to win much more than a race or two. During that time, at that same
track, she met Kevin Fisher, whom she married after a four month courtship. At the exact spot where he asked her
out for the first time, they exchanged their vows, then exchanged race-car data as teammates.
Once racing became a family affair, she acquired her competition license. In February 2003, Kathy completed the
Super Comp Dragster course at Frank Hawley's NHRA Drag Racing School in Gainesville, Florida. Today, she is
licensed in both drag racing sanctioning bodies in five classes.
Fisher said that in 2003, when she was the pit reporter for IHRA on SPEED TV, she realized she wanted to pursue
a championship in the Quick Rod class. When that season finished, she purchased her first "new to her" dragster
and began to prepare for the 2004 season.
Because of the usual setbacks for the average racer, available vacation time - and oh, did anyone mention
money?! - that first year kept her close to home, bracket racing at Marion County International Raceway at La
Rue, Ohio. She was able to take a stab at a couple of IHRA National events at Maryland International Raceway
at Budds Creek and Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. The Fishers were hooked!
Performance by Fisher Racing debuted in 2005, with husband and wife competing in the same class. After finishing
ninth and tenth in the IHRA Division 3 Quick Rod standings, they improved in 2006 with top-five finishes at the
division level and top 25 showings on the National scene.
The Fishers said they're limited only by the bane of all racers: MONEY. Their plan is to attend 23 IHRA &
NHRA National and Divisional events, something they could not have thought of with her full time career in radio.
Once again, Kathy Fisher will drive her 230-inch Boulton/Cannister Dragster with its alcohol-injected big-block
Chevy motor.
Just as she can't get drag-racing from her system, neither can she abandon her radio skills. She has found a way to
marry the two. In March, Fisher started planning for a syndicated weekly radio show dedicated to drag racing. It's
in the beginning stages, but she said she looks forward to bringing her two worlds together and hopes to expose a
whole new audience to the drag racing world from a racer's viewpoint.
You can read more about Kathy Fisher on her web site.
| Accomplishments 2007 **WINNER - IHRA Canadian Nationals - Quick Rod Toronto Motorsports Park **Runner-Up IHRA Div 3 Quick Rod Kanawha Motorsports Park Pro-Am **Runner-Up IHRA Div 9 Quick Rod Piedmont Dragway Pro-Am 2006 **Runner-Up IHRA Div 3 Quick Rod Quaker City Pro-Am **Top 25 Finish IHRA Quick Rod National Points **Top 5 Finish IHRA Quick Rod Division 3 Points **Best Appearing Crew - IHRA World Finals - Rockingham, NC 2005 **First Year IHRA Quick Rod #9 Finish in Division 3 |
